Presidential Candidates Ignored Cyber-Security in Final Debate

We hear a lot about nation-states launching advanced attacks against U.S. networks to steal intellectual property or targeting military installations and networks. Our critical infrastructure is vulnerable to attack. Sounds like cyber-security is an important part of national security, no?

So why was cyber-security virtually ignored during the third and final presidential debate last night?

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta seemed to think it was important in his speech to the Business Executives for National Security event in New York last week. "An aggressor nation or extremist group could use these kinds of cyber-tools to gain control of critical switches. They could, for example, derail passenger trains or even more dangerous, derail trains loaded with lethal chemicals," Panetta said. "They could contaminate the water supply in major cities or shut down the power grid across large parts of the country."

Yet less than a week after Panetta warned of a potential "cyber Pearl Harbor," the two presidential candidates barely mentioned cyber-security in a debate that was supposed to be about foreign policy. Neither candidate mentioned cyber-war, cyber-security, or even the fact that the military has drafted new rules that would allow it to respond aggressively to cyber-attacks.

What Exactly Did the Candidates Say?When the moderator, CBS's Bob Schieffer, asked about maintaining the military's strength in face of defense spending cuts, President Barack Obama said cyber-security was one of the defense capabilities that needed to be a top priority for the U.S. military. Since threats are no longer just physical, the military has to shift their attention to cyber-security.

"When it comes to our military, what we have to think about is not, you know just budgets, we've got to think about capabilities. We need to be thinking about cyber-security. We need to be talking about space. That's exactly what our budget does, but it's driven by strategy. It's not driven by politics," Obama said.

While Obama probably can't discuss specific operations publicly, he could have elaborated on why cyber-attacks needed to move up the priority ladder. He could have discussed how the military considers cyber-space as the fifth domain of warfare (after air, land, sea and space) and how the Defense Department plans to recruit and train a "cyber-talent base" and set up cyber-capabilities in the Reserve and National Guard.

Governor Mitt Romney mentioned cyber-security when discussing China and its threat to American interests.

Romney could have expanded on his point to discuss what he would do, especially since he listed cyber-security in his plan of action for the first 100 days in office. He could have mentioned how other countries are investing in cyber-capabilities for their military and how the U.S. needs to prepare.

Missed OpportunitiesPanetta had a lot of grim predictions in his speech. "The most destructive scenarios involve cyber-actors launching several attacks on our critical infrastructure at one time, in combination with a physical attack on our country. Attackers could also seek to disable or degrade critical military systems and communication networks," he said.

Panetta also warned of an "attack that would cause physical destruction and loss of life, paralyze and shock the nation, and create a profound new sense of vulnerability," and military and intelligence officials regularly talk about how attackers are regularly targeting sensitive systems and critical infrastructure.

Despite Panetta's nightmare scenario, there was no discussion during the debate about the importance of cyber-security legislation to protect critical infrastructure, why it has stalled in Congress, and whether the president would be moving ahead with an executive order.

Panetta's was concerned that Iran was working hard to "gain an advantage in cyber-space," but neither candidate mentioned cyber-weapons and cyber-warfare when the topic of Iran and its nuclear program came up. The Middle East was a hot topic last night, but nothing about the various cyber-attacks against oil and gas companies in the region.

Obama has done more on cyber-security in the past four years than previous presidents, and it's easy to have debate hindsight when I don't have a stopwatch clocking how long I have to answer the question. But it would have been nice if the candidates had prepared a few thoughts on cyber-security beforehand so that we could have a debate on where things are going next.

Automatic Renewal Program: Your subscription will continue without interruption for as long as you wish, unless
you instruct us otherwise. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of the term unless you authorize
cancellation. Each year, you'll receive a notice and you authorize that your credit/debit card will be charged the
annual subscription rate(s). You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all
unsent issues. If your credit/debit card or other billing method can not be charged, we will bill you directly instead. Contact Customer Service

//Stay Connected

Get Product Reviews, Deals, & the Latest News from PCMag

sign up

Plus, get a free copy of PCMag for your iPhone or iPad today.

Offer valid for new PCMag app downloads only. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING!

Please follow this link (or search for the PC Magazine app on your iPad or iPhone) to get your free issue. Offer valid for new app downloads.

//Featured Programs

//our current issue

Select Term:

24 issues for $29.99 ONLY $1.25 an issue! Lock in Your Savings!

12 issues for $19.99ONLY $1.67 an issue!

State

Country

This transaction is secure

Automatic Renewal Program: Your subscription will continue without interruption for as long as you wish, unless
you instruct us otherwise. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of the term unless you authorize
cancellation. Each year, you'll receive a notice and you authorize that your credit/debit card will be charged the
annual subscription rate(s). You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all
unsent issues. If your credit/debit card or other billing method can not be charged, we will bill you directly instead. Contact Customer Service